GROVE RESIDENTS SEE DRUG PROBLEMS, CAN'T FIND HELP

Spruce Grove has a drug problem and people in the community know it,
but aren't sure where to find help.

That's the message that came before council during the March 19
committee of the whole meeting, as the Tri-Municipal Drug Strategy
Team presented the results of a recent community survey on drugs.

Results showed 72 per cent of respondents felt there was a drug
problem, over half didn't know how to access support in the community,
and more than three-quarters of those queried didn't even know there
was an RCMP drug tip line.

"Our community's drug problem has reached terrifying proportions,"
Ald. Wayne Rothe said. "But we already knew that."

He explained that while council and the general public have been
exposed to numerous presentations about the issue, "kids who are using
drugs (still don't) fully understand the consequences."

For the message to be more effective, Ald. Bill Steinburg said,
communication has to be more effective.

He pointed to the recent play Wasted Angels by Multi Youth
Productions, which toured the province teaching students the dangers
of crystal meth.

"It was youth putting on that performance, and youth listened,"
Steinburg declared. "Rather than us as adults and council and parents
trying to make the decision as to what our kids are going to do, I
think this is a great opportunity to ask the youth, `What would you
like?'

"Youth will listen to their peers. I think it would be much more
positive if we could get more youth involved."

Plans

Ald. Bill Kesanko feels there are a number of holes in the numbers
presented to council.

"What I would have hoped to find in this report were some answers, and
what this report left me with was a number of questions," Kesanko
said. He explained that to make the problem go away, council would
need to get more serious. And for that to happen, elected officials
need to know what direction the public feels will be effective.

Rothe echoed Kesanko's desire to see real change, but said the chance
to make real, lasting difference might be in the province's hands.

"I liken it sort of to the smoking issue," Rothe said, explaining that
a provincial smoking ban -- with legal consequences -- might be a way
to cut down cigarette use in all municipalities in Alberta.

In a similar manner, the province might be more effective than
individual municipalities if it steps up to the plate.

Despite the negative comments from others on council, Mayor Ken Scott
said he felt the presentation did contain some elements of good news.
"There was no hope several years ago; now there's hope," Scott said.
"We're targeting a problem and we're dealing with it."

Survey

The report was prepared and presented by Linda Banister with Banister
Research and Consulting.

Data came from 862 surveys distributed among residents in Spruce
Grove, Stony Plain and Parkland County. Most of the data represent the
entire area.

Due to the number of surveys, Banister said the margin for error is no
greater than plus or minus three per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The RCMP drug tip line is 968-7212, and it's for the public to report
instances of drug use or suspected use.

During committee of the whole meetings, council can't make policy
decisions, so rather elected officials accepted the report as
information.

"I know this information will be looked at very seriously by our
council," Ald. Randy Palivoda said. "I strongly suspect the other two
councils would as well."